Scene: A Cherry of a Ride

Top: the Cherry bike, complete with custom-painted plaid fenders. Bottom: Gillian Goerz, who painted a portrait of Cherry to go along with his new ride.

WHERE: Curbside Cycle (412 Bloor Street West)WHEN: 12:30 pm. on Saturday, February 12.WHAT: In the first meeting of Toronto’s newly elected city council, back in December, Don Cherry raised some eyebrows—and some ire—with a welcome speech that struck many as anything but welcoming. To try and mend fractured relationships, Curbside Cycle wrote an open letter to Cherry, in which the shop promised to create a custom-painted city bike in his honour. The public voted on their favourite Cherry-style pattern, and today the finished bike was unveiled. It is a Pashley Tube Rider, painted by Noah Rosen of VéloColour. Curbside customers and cycling fans can get their photo taken with the bike all day today, and also with that very special painting of Cherry pictured above.
“We wanted it to be a call to action,” portrait-painter Gillian Goerz told us, “to give him a chance to make up for his bullying remarks. Unfortunately Curbside was unable to make contact with Cherry to arrange receipt of his present, and so instead will be putting the bike up for auction on eBay shortly, with proceeds to go to charity. At least one city councillor has already expressed strong interest.Photos by Dean Bradley/Torontoist.